"Kynges that come after Knelede, and offrede Mirre and muche gold, Withouten mercy askynge Or any kynnes catel, But knowelichynge hym sovereyn Bothe of lond, sonne, and see, And sithenes thei wente Into hir kyngene kith, By counseil of aungeles. 13110 And there was that word fulfilled The which thow of speke. _Omnia cælestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Jhesu._ "For alle the aungeles of hevene At his burthe knelede, And al the wit of the world Was in tho thre kynges, {401} Reson and rightwisnesse And ruthe thei offrede; 13120 Wherfore and why Wise men that tyme, Maistres and lettred men, _Magi_ hem callede. "That o kyng cam with reson, Covered under sense. "The seconde kyng siththe Soothliche offrede Rightwisnesse under reed gold, Resones felawe. 13130 For gold is likned to leautee That laste shal evere. "The thridde kyng tho kam Knelynge to Jhesu, And presented hym with pitee, Apperynge by mirre. For mirre is mercy to mene And mylde speche of tonge. "Thre y-liche honeste thynges Were offred thus at ones, 13140 Thorugh thre kynne kynges Knelynge to Jhesu, "Ac for alle thise preciouse presentz, Oure Lord kyng Jhesus Was neither kyng ne conquerour, Til he gan to wexe In the manere of a man, And that by muchel sleighte, As it bi-cometh a conquerour To konne manye sleightes, 13150 And manye wiles and wit, That wole ben a ledere. {402} And so dide Jhesu in hise dayes, Who so hadde tyme to telle it. "Som tyme he suffrede, And som tyme he hidde hym; And some tyme he faught faste, And fleigh outher while; And som tyme he gaf good, And grauntede heele bothe, 13160 Lif and lyme, As hym liste he wroghte. As kynde is of a conquerour, So comsede Jhesu, Til he hadde alle hem That he for bledde.